451. Chapter 451

After A Rose for Everafter

Episode 2.12

By

UCSBdad

Disclaimer: And, a rose for all of us who don't own Castle. Rating: K Time: See above.

NOW

"You were not jealous of Kyra Blaine." Rick said, laughing.

"How do you know? I'm the one who knows what goes on in my mind, not you."

"I know you, Beckett. You didn't even like me back then. If I had run off with Kyra, you would have been the happiest detective in all of New York."

"So you say."

THEN

"She's the one who got away." He said sadly.

Kate was a little surprised at how upset Castle was. He hasn't seen her for how many years? Since before his first wife and he reacts like this? And the way he looked at her. I've seen Castle look at attractive women before, but nor like that. He doesn't look at me like that. Kate shook her head. Where the hell did that come from? He can look at anyone else anyway he likes.

NOW

"The way you looked at her, the way you acted around her. I hadn't seen you look at anyone like that before. You didn't look at me like that."

He nodded. "I didn't look at you like that when you could see it. I wasn't suicidal. It's not like I had any reason to believe that I'd survive looking at you like that."

"Maybe if you'd acted like you were interested instead of talking about sex with your ex-wife or telling me how slutty Nikki Heat was, things would have been different."

"As your husband I know enough to admit that it was all my fault."

Kate just smiled at him.

THEN

"I know he only dedicates his books to people he really cares about." Kyra said.

The elevator door opened at Kyra left. Kate stood there thinking. He cares about me? Okay, I'm sure he wants to get me in bed. I know he enjoys solving murders with me. And, of course, he's making a lot of money off the books he's writing based on this. But Kyra thinks he really cares about me? I haven't seen that. Or have I? He's risked his life with me and we've saved each other's lives. Castle would have to care…So he cares. She suddenly thought. So what? Richard Castle is not my type and he never will be.

NOW

"I think that was the first time I admitted to myself that you were more than some annoying ride along that was helpful in solving murders."

"Of course, by that time, I was falling in love with you."

"You were not!" She insisted. "I know perfectly well that you didn't give me a thought until I started dating Tom Demming. It was when you realized I might be gone that you decided you liked me."

He shook his head. "No. I knew you were special from the first case we worked. But I knew you didn't care for me, so I let you go. It was what you wanted."

"But back then, I was just trying to figure out how I felt about you. And how you felt about Kyra."

THEN

Kate walked into the ballroom to find Castle and Kyra alone. Castle had a slice of cake in his hand. Is he hoping there won't be any wedding and this is now just a cake? "We're done here. I thought you'd like a ride back."

Kyra told Castle that she had to get back to the wedding party and left. Kate saw how Castle looked at her as she left. She could see the longing on his face.

In the elevator Castle told her about his relationship with Krya Blaine. He had been with Kyra for longer than he'd been with her. And he obviously felt a great deal more for Kyra than he felt for her.

"Was the breakup tough?" She asked.

"It was a long time ago." He replied and left the elevator.

He didn't answer my question. She thought.

NOW

"It wasn't as bad as losing you to Demming or Doctor Motorcycle Boy, but it was bad."

"I didn't ask." She said softly.

"You were not asking very loudly."

They both laughed.

"And, you didn't lose me, in case you hadn't noticed. They both lost me to you."

"And I couldn't be happier."

THEN

After chewing out Castle for changing the settings on her chair, Kate sat there, wondering if he was going to tell her that he had been with Kyra. Not just with her, but kissing her. She's engaged and practically married. How could he do that? How could she? The answer came to her suddenly. She doesn't want Greg, she wants Castle. And he wants her, too. For the first time in many years she felt a block of ice forming in her stomach. Am I losing my partner?

"I saw her last night."

Kate was relieved. At least he told the truth. And, they did no more than kiss. They talked some more and then they left and went home.

She was surprised when Castle accused her of having Kyra followed and saying that it was a poor use of police resources. Maybe I did have an ulterior motive, but Kyra is a murder suspect and we have no evidence that it was a crime of passion.

NOW

"And it wasn't a crime of passion." Kate said. "Greg's Uncle cold bloodedly planned the whole thing to conceal his theft of Greg's trust fund."

"So I was wrong about the crime of passion, but Kyra had nothing to do with it."

"No, Kate said, "but there was plenty of passion when we got Greg in interrogation."

THEN

After kicking Castle out of the interrogation and finishing the interrogation by herself, Kate looked at her notes without seeing them. He wants Greg to be the killer. If Greg is the killer, then Kyra is free to marry Castle. Wait! Marry Castle? How many times has he said that another marriage is not in the cards for him? But Kyra is different. He was in love with her when he was in college. And she's real. Not what I expected from Castle's lost love. She's nothing like Meredith who is a shallow flake. But what about Gina? I met her very briefly when I was looking for Castle at the Storm Fall book launch party. She's a successful career woman. She could be real, too. Maybe Castle does want real. Like me?

NOW

"Exactly like you. I couldn't find a more real wife than you. You're exactly what I need." He leaned over and kissed her forehead.

"And you were real as well."

Castle tried to look offended. "What? I'm every bit as real as you are. I'm as real as they come. As you should know."

"You acted like a real detective at the end. "

THEN

Castle helped her nail Ted Murphy for murder and fraud. She smiled to herself. Castle is back to acting like my partner and not like a love sick college student. It's good to be back to normal. She had to stop and think about that. Being with Castle is normal. It's what I'm used to. No, it's what I like. I like being with Castle. Was Lanie right?

NOW

"Of course she was right. As was everyone else who thought we should be together. You were the only one who didn't see it."

"I started seeing it when you talked to Kyra in the precinct."

THEN

Kate tried not to watch them as they sat in the office and talked. They were smiling at each other. They obviously still enjoyed each other's company. She thought back to when she had run into Will Sorenson again. They had kissed as well and Castle had seen them. What she had had with Will was gone. She had discovered that when they kissed. Did Kyra and Rick discover that what they had had was still there when they kissed?

Kyra rose and leaned in to kiss Castle. She's going to…kiss him on the cheek. She felt relieved and wondered why she felt that way. She had had partners move on before. Mike Royce for one. This would be no different. Wouldn't it?

Kyra walked out of the office and stopped by Kate's desk. "He's all yours." She said and was gone.

What did she mean by that?

NOW

"She meant that I was yours any time you cared to have me."

Kate laughed. "I should have had you then."

Castle just smiled.